There is no need to write a lengthy story about my stay in the Troodos Mountains. After we left Akrotiri Peninsula, we also left the sunshine. The more we were driving towards the mountains, the darker the clouds were getting until the downpour started again.
We stayed in a gorgeous hotel with swimming pool in Lemithou called Themis House. We ended up getting stuck there. We arrived around 3pm and there was nowhere for us to go. Lemithou was deserted and all the other small villages didn’t contain anything of note either.
Vouni
The reason we came to Troodos, was firstly, for the donkey sanctuary in Vouni, which we found out when we arrived is closed due to the crisis.
We did end up having our first experience with Cypriot meze in Takis Taverna. We sat down in the tavern and the waiter came over and asked us what we wanted to drink; we gave him our order and he walked away. I called him back to ask for the menu. He laughed and walked away again. My friend and I were so confused, but then the food started coming: dolmades (stuffed grape vines), halloumi, souvla, sheftalia, loukaniko (sausages), kleftiko (lamb)…. It seriously just kept coming and it didn’t stop! After about fifteen dishes, my friend and I asked for the bill and the waiter was surprised. That experience has taught me that meze is not supposed to be a quick meal. It’s s a social even that is to be enjoyed for as long as possible.
Troodos Mountains Hike
And after the donkey sanctuary we wanted to make a nice hike in nature. That also wasn’t successful, because when the sky looks like this, you think twice about venturing out the hotel.
So instead we stayed in our hotel room and listened to the downpour. That night we didn’t sleep much because it wasn’t only rainy, it was cold as well (I would like to repeat that we were there in MAY!). There were no extra blankets and no heating and I didn’t have any sweaters with me, so I had to shiver to keep my body warm all night.
Pedoulas
Needless to say, in the morning we wanted to get out of the mountains and into Nicosia as quickly as possible. We left the hotel early and stopped for breakfast in the beautiful Pedoulas. The picture below doesn’t do it any justice. Luckily, this summer I went again and due to the fact that it was sunny and I have a DSLR, the pictures look much better. Both times I was there I had food at Mountain Rose which offers a great view of the town.
Halloumi and sausage for breakfast, yum!
Conclusion
I am happy I revisited Troodos Mountains, because this trip did not do the area any justice. You will see much better pictures and impressions of the area when I describe my visit in 2015. It’s an area definitely worth visiting, but not when it’s raining!
